Hand stencil duplicator



June 17, 1952 P. H. MASON ETAL HAND STENCIL DUPLICATOR Filed April 16, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l /////IIIIA 7,19s2 P. H. MASON ETAL 2,600,413

HAND STENCIL DUPLICATOR Filed April 16, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED HAND STENCIL DUPLICATOR Porter H. Mason, William D. Mason, and Jack H. Mason, Norfolk, Va.

Application April 16, 1948, Serial No. 21,336

Claims. (Cl. 101125) Our invention consists in new and useful improvements in a hand stencil duplicator.

An object of our invention is to provide a device of this character which is rigid and compact in structure and one which may be readily assembled and disassembled for cleaning purposes.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel arrangement of nested parts whereby the entire assembly may be secured together with a minimum of fastening means.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an improved ink reservoir and distribution means whereby the supply of ink maintained in the handle is thoroughly distributed to all areas of the ink pad.

A further object of our invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for securing the stencil in place over the pad.

Still another object of our invention is to provide means to prevent undesirable bowing of the pad retaining frame member which would otherwise occur when the parts are assembled.

A still further object of our invention is to provide convenient indicating means to facilitate the proper positioning of the stencil on the card or paper to be imprinted upon.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, our invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved hand stencil duplicator;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the central portion of the duplicator;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line l l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the various parts of the duplicator in perspective;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the duplicator shown on a reduced scale; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the prebowed frame, showing the assembled position of the frame in dotted lines.

In the drawings, l represents the base or body portion of our improved stencil duplicator which is preferably rectangular in shape and beveled on its four edges. This base may be provided with a transversely curved lower face as shown in the drawings, or in certain smaller models, 'may if desired, be flat on its underside. The

particular form here illustrated being of the curved variety, we will confine our description to that form in discussing the details of construction.

A handle 2 which projects at right angles from the upper face of the body l is hollowed out to form an ink reservoir 3 and is preferably screw threaded at its upper extremity 4 to receive a threaded cap or cover 5 which also serves as a hand engaging portion.

The lower extremity of the reservoir 3 is preferably provided with a passageway 6 through which ink flows from the reservoir to the mouth I of a distribution chamber 8 in the body I.

As will best be seen from the exploded view in Figure 5 of the drawings, the underside of the body I is recessed as at 8 to form the ink distribution chamber and to accommodate the various elements of the assembly. The mouth I is centrally disposed in the base of the chamber 3, the surface of the base being provided with a network of channels 9 arranged in communication with the mouth 1 and extending throughout substantially the entire area of the base within the recess or chamber 8.

The ink distribution area served by the distributing channels 9 is preferably bounded by a raised shoulder It which serves as a retaining means for a foraminous plate ll adapted to lie directly across the ink distribution area and upon which is placed a suitable ink pad l2. The ink pad 12 may be formed of any suitable absorbent material and is provided along its edges with a surrounding flange or lip I3 by means of which the pad is secured in place between the opposed faces of a retainin frame It and the base of the recess 8, as shown in Figure 2.

The frame it is rectangular in shape and conforms to the dimensions of the recess 8 whereby said frame may be nested within the marginal Walls of the recess. The inner boundary of the frame is reduced or relieved as at [5 to provide a suitable clearance between the outer face of the frame and the adjacent surface of the ink pad 12, so as to avoid the smearing of ink from the pad onto the outer face of the frame. This clearance is preferably approximately one-eighth of an inch which has been found satisfactorily to accomplish the end sought.

The frame Hi is secured in place by means of screws H3 located at the longitudinal extremities of the frame on its center line and in order to overcome the normal tendency of the frame to bow longitudinally outwardly when the screws are tightened, we provide at the longitudinal extremities of the recess 8, a pair of abutments I! as shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5. Thus, when the frame is inserted within the recess 8, its ends engage the abutments l1 and the tightening of the screws [6 causes a tension on the inner area of the frame which compensates for any tendency to bow outwardly.

In this connection we have found that by prebowing the frame M in the opposite direction as shown diagrammatically in Figure 7, this tendency to bow outwardly is further overcome in the assembled duplicator.

The stencil retaining means for our improved duplicator is mounted within the confines of the marginal walls of the chamber 8 and comprises a pair of longitudinally extending clips 18 in the form of elongated angles bent to conform to the contour of the side edges of the frame M, which side edges are recessed as at ii! to accommodate the legs of the clips 18. The inner edges of the legs of clips I8 are turned inwardly as at 28 so as to engage the underface of the frame l4 and the outer extremities of the clips are turned in- =wardly to form opposed stencil retaining lips 21. As shown in Figure 5, the side walls of the recess 8 in the body i are provided with complementary recesses 22 for receivin the adJacent portions of the legs of the clips 18 when the structure is assembled.

While we have shown complementary recesses in the frame Hi and walls of the recess 3, it will be understood that we may employ recesses in either or both of these elements. In any event, it is preferable to have retaining recesses 1n the side edges of the frame 14.

In the past, difiiculty has frequently been encountered with hand duplicators in properly 1ocating the stencil on the paper or card to be printed, due to the fact that the stencil is located on the underside of the device and is out of sight. In order to overcome this dilhculty, we have provided a series of markings 23 along the edges of the body I, which marks may be arranged to coincide with predetermined areas on the stencil. Thus, when the stencil 24, shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 3, is secured in place with its longitudinal edges slipped under the angular lips 2| of the clips N3, the printed area may be lined up with the proper markings 23, both longitudinally and transversely of the body i. By means of these guide lines, the body of the duplicator may be properly located with respect to the paper or card to be printed upon so as to center the printed matter and avoid the spoilage of material.

While our improved duplicator may be constructed of various materials and by various methods, it has been primarily designed to facilitate its manufacture by die casting all of the basic metal parts. Thus, the body I and handle 2 may be die cast in one piece, forming simultaneously the reservoir 3, the passageway 6 and the ink distribution channels 9. It will be understood, however, that the handle may be constructed separately and screwed into place or otherwise secured to the body I.

Furthermore, while we have shown a restricted passageway 6 connecting the reservoir 3 with the recessed chamber 8, this passageway may be unrestricted and in the form of a continuation of the inner walls of the reservoir. In other words, the reservoir may feed directly into the chamber.

In the use of our improved duplicator, the reservoir is first filled with ink and the cap screwed onto the neck of the handle 2, closing the reservoir. The ink enters the distribution chamber 8 and is conveyed through channels 9 throughout the entire area of the pad 12. In order to avoid the formation of such a degree of vacuum in the reservoir as would unduly restrict the flow of ink, it is desirable from time to time, to remove the cap 5 and replace it after permitting air to enter the reservoir. In fact, the removable cap 5 affords a certain degree of control over the flow of ink from the reservoir, in that when closed, it acts to retain the ink in the reservoir and prevents its distribution in surplus amounts. The periodic removal of the cap permits the entrance of sufficient air to enable the duplicator to function normally without danger of excessive ink flow.

From the foregoing it is believed that our invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A hand stencil duplicator, comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a hollow handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, forming an ink reservoir, a passageway connecting said reservoir with said chamber, a series of connected channels in the base of said chamber arranged in communication with said passageway for distributing ink throughout the area of said base, a foraminous plate overlying said channels, an ink absorbent pad in said chamber overlying said foraminous plate, said pad being of a thickness greater than the depth of said chamber and having a surrounding lip adapted to lie against the base of said chamber, a pad retaining frame nested in said chamber and overlying said lip, separate elements associated with said frame for retaining a stencil in position over said pad and common means for removably securing said pad, frame and stencil retaining elements in assembled relation.

2. A hand stencil duplicator, comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a hollow handle projecting from the opposite side of said body forming an ink reservoir, a passageway connecting said reservoir with said chamber, means in saidchamber in communication with said passageway for distributing ink throughout said chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber and bounded by a retaining lip, the main portion of said pad being of a thickness greater than the depth of said chamber so that its outer surface lies in a plane beyond that of the walls of said chamber, a pad retaining frame nested in said chamber and lying entirely within the confines of its walls, common means for removably securing said frame in place and clamping said lip between said frame and the base of said chamber, the inner edges of said frame being recessed immediately adjacent said pad to form a clearance around said pad, and separate means retained in place by said frame for securing a stencil in position over said pad.

3. A hand stencil duplicator, comprising a body portion, recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, an ink reservoir in communication with said chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber, a pad retaining frame nested in said chamber,

separate elements retained within said chamber by said frame for securing a stencil in position over said pad, said pad being of a thickness greater than the depth of said chamber so as to project outwardly beyond the walls thereof, all of the other parts of said assembly being disposed within the confines of said chamber and common means for removably securing said pad, frame and stencil retaining elements in assembled relation.

4. A hand stencil duplicator comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, an ink reservoir in communication with said chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber with its outer face lying in a plane beyond that of the walls of said chamber, a pad retaining frame nested in said chamber for clamping the edges of said pad in place, recesses in at least two opposite edges of said frame for receiving stencil clamps, separable stencil clamps interposed between said frame and the walls of said chamber within said recesses for retaining a stencil in place over said pad and common means for removably securing said pad, frame and stencil clamps in assembled relation.

5. A hand stencil duplicator comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, an ink reservoir in communication with said chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber, a pad retaining frame nested in said chamber and engaging the boundaries of said pad, abutments projecting within said chamber from the base thereof at its longitudinal extremities for engagement by the inner face of said frame, whereby the tendency of said frame to bow outwardly longitudinally when clamped in place, is compensated for, means for securing said frame in place, separate elements for retaining a stencil in position over said pad and common means for removably securing said pad, frame and stencil retaining elements in assembled relation.

6. A hand stencil duplicator comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, an ink reservoir in communication with said chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber, a

padretaining frame nested in said chamber and r engaging the boundaries of said pad, said frame being prebowed longitudinally and inwardly to compensate for a tendency to bow longitudinally and outwardly when assembled, means for securing said frame in place, and means for pcsitioning a stencil over said pad.

7. A hand stencil duplicator comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber, a handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, an ink reservoir in communication with said chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber, a pad retaining frame nested in said chamber and engaging the boundaries of said pad, said frame being prebowed longitudinally and inwardly to compensate for a tendency to bow longitudinally and outwardly when assembled, abutments projecting within said. chamber from the base thereof at its longitudinal extremities for engagement by the inner face of said frame to further compensate for the tendency of said frame to bow outwardly longitudinally when clampedin place, means for securing said frame in place, and means for positioning a stencil over said pad.

8. A hand stencil duplicator, comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution chamber having marginal walls, a hollow handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, forming an ink reservoir, in communication with said ink distribution chamber, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said chamber, a pad retaining frame nesting in said chamber and within the comfines of said marginal walls, separate elements associated with said frame and within the confines of said marginal walls for retaining a stencil in position over said pad and common means for removably securing said pad, frame and stencil retaining elements in assembled relation.

9. A hand stencil duplicator comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to form an ink distribution element, a handle projecting from the opposite side of said body, an ink reservoir in communication with said distribution element, an ink absorbent pad disposed in said recessed element with its outer face lying in a plane beyond that of the walls of said recess, a pad retaining frame element nested in said recessed element for clamping the edges of said pad in place, indentations in opposite edges of at least one of said elements for receiving stencil clamps, stencil clamps interposed between said frame element and the walls of said recessed distri bution element within said indentations for retaining a stencil in place over said pad and common means for removably securing said pad, frame, and stencil clamps in assembled relation.

10. A hand stencil duplicator comprising a body portion recessed on its underside to provide a chamber surrounded by marginal walls, an ink absorbent pad in said chamber with its edges spaced inwardly from the respectively adjacent marginal walls of said chamber, and a pad retaining frame nested in the marginal space between the edges of said pad and said adjacent walls of said chamber for securing said pad within said chamber, the adjoining edges of said frame facing inwardly toward said pad and outwardly from said body being relieved to thereby provide a marginal clearance between said pad and the outer face of the frame and thus to avoid smearing of ink from the pad onto the outer face of the frame.

PORTER H. MASON. WILLIAM D. MASON. JACK H. MASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,106 Lehmkuhl June 8, 1915 1,617,278 Spurrier Feb. 8, 1927 1,782,877 Madden Nov. 25, 1930 2,020,151 Madden Nov. 5, 1935 2,233,065 Walter Feb. 25, 1941 2,335,992 Biskind Dec. 7, 1943 

